GB2499272A

GB2499272A - A handheld garbage collector

Info

Publication number: GB2499272A
Application number: GB201211921A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Wraight
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-07-04
Filing date: 2012-07-04
Publication date: 2013-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 2032-07-04
Also published as: GB2499272B; GB201211921D0

Abstract

A handheld garbage collector or dustpan comprises a tray 2 bounded by a side 1 leading to a handle 3, wherein at least said tray 2 and side 1 are formed by an elastomer body capable of resilient deformation. The collector preferably includes a core 5 made of synthetic plastics for strengthening purposes. The elastomer body is preferably silicon rubber with the core 5 including a plurality of ribs.

Description

A HANDHELD GARBAGE COLLECTOR

Field of the Invention

5 The present invention relates to a handheld garbage collector, more particularly but not exclusively to a handheld garbage collector for use with a brush.

Background

10 Increasing prevalence of hard flooring such as natural wood, laminate or tiling, in many societies is a result of greater emphasis on cleanliness.

It is possible and easy to clean hard flooring with a mop, brush or broom and where appropriate a dust pan for collection of dust, detritus or garbage and subsequent 15 transport to a refuse facility for disposal.

This cleaning is appropriate given any size of flooring, and in most environments be such environments industrial or domestic.

20 In industrial or construction environments large areas of hard flooring such as bare concrete or unfinished flooring will need to be cleaned, frequently including larger garbage that would not be appropriate for any size of vacuum cleaner.

For example users working in construction will often need strong, heavy duty tools, 25 able to withstand the knocks and scrapes that occur when working on site, and this is even more so when dealing with disposal of garbage at a construction site, where garbage typically includes larger items and time is at a premium.

Prior Art

30

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following:

Chinese utility model CN 2 904 938 (DU) relates to a novel dustpan which comprises 35 a dustpan body includes a bottom plate, and guard plates vertically place on three adjacent side surfaces of the bottom plates and an open end placed on the left side.

The dustpan is characterized in that a layer of cushion extending outward made by soft material is provided on the open side. Since a layer of cushion extending outward made by soft material is provided on the open side of the dustpan body, and the upper part of the furthest outside end of the cushion is designed into a structure 5 of downward inclined blade, thus during usage of the present utility model, the cushion can closely stick to the ground and reduce the connecting clearance between the cushion and the ground, thus to swept and clean out some powder shape or strip shape garbage. The present utility model has simple and smart structure with strong practicability, which facilitates a time saving and labour saving 1Q cleaning.

Granted United States patent US 6 249 930 (NOGGLE) discloses a dust pan for collecting a mixture of materials from a flat surface to be cleaned comprising a body member having a. a bottom wall with a leading contact edge, a rear edge, and a pair 15 of flanking edges, - each of the pair of flanking edges extends from an end of the leading contact edge to an end of the rear edge; b. a pair of upstanding side walls, each upstanding side wall has a contact leading upright edge, a side edge, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a trailing edge, - each of the pair of upstanding side walls has the contact leading upright edge extending from an end of the bottom edge to a 20 front end of the side edge, a rear end of the side edge is connected to the top edge, the top edge is connected to the trailing edge, and the trailing edge is connected to the other end of the bottom edge; c. a back wall with a top edge, a pair of lateral edges, and a bottom edge, - each of the pair of lateral edges of the back wall extends between an end of the top edge and a corresponding end of the bottom edge; and d. 25 a top wall with a trailing border, a pair of sideways edges, and a back edge, - each of the pair of sideways edges of the top wall extends between an end of the trailing border and a corresponding end of the back edge, - each of said pair of upstanding side walls has its bottom edge connected to one of the pair of flanking edges of the bottom wall, its trailing edge connected to one of the pair of lateral edges of the back 30 wall, and its top edge connected to one of the pair of sideways edges of the top wall, - the back edge of the top wall is connected to the top edge of the back wall, and -the bottom edge of the back wall is connected to the rear edge of the bottom wall; e. a recess for receiving the mixture is bounded by the top wall, the back wall, the bottom wall and the pair of upstanding side walls,- said recess having an entryway 35 comprising the leading contact edge of the bottom wall, the trailing border of the top wall, and the contact leading upright edges and the side edges of the pair of

2

upstanding side walls,- said leading contact edge being flexibly movable between a concave aspect relative to said recess when extraneously unbiased and a substantially straight aspect when biased by pressable contact with the flat surface to be cleaned,- whereby, a sealing contact may be made between the leading contact 5 edge of the dust pan and the flat surface to be cleaned to facilitate collection of the mixture of materials from the flat surface.

In contrast the present invention provides a means of collecting garbage that is able to flex under large amounts of pressure and then form back into its original shape so 10 as to stop snapping and give a much higher resistance to scrapes and indentations.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a handheld garbage collector, 15 comprising a tray bounded by a side leading to a handle; wherein at least said tray and side are formed by an elastomer body capable of resilient deformation.

Ideally the elastomer body is silicone rubber, and the body is applied to or covering at least part of the tray and side in such a manner so as to ensure that the tray and side 20 are flexible but resiliently deformable. Height of the side as well as size of the tray determines how much garbage can be carried within the collector.

Typically the tray provides a leading edge for the collector where the side is broken or the tray open-ended, and in preferred embodiments the edge is scalloped or 25 angled, so as to provide a more effective scooping edge, for scooping relatively smaller garbage items.

In some further embodiments the edge may be formed of softer or harder material or provided with an appropriate core that encourages a sharp edge.

30

In preferred embodiments the collector is provided with internal strengthening, in the form of a core body wherein the core body may include rigid material and said material extends inside or within the body, in relation to the tray, handle or side.

3

In preferred embodiments this core is provided by synthetic plastics, such as polyurethane, being flexible and supple enough but able to provide rigidity in the collector where appropriate.

5 In other embodiments a wire or metallic frame may provide the core, wherein the body acts as a flexibly resilient surface and the core provides a resiliently deformable shape.

In particular ribs may be moulded into the core allowing it to bend and flex in the 10 appropriate areas. The core may act as a lightweight shape provider covered by the silicone, wherein the body provides planes and/or faces which are used for collection of different sized garbage particles.

In further embodiments the core may be grid-like or skeleton.

15

Advantageously the body also minimises damage to underlying structures over which the collector is used, wherein the collector is consequently provided with a soft touch surface and softened edges.

20 In some embodiments the collector includes ridging, ribs, or raised and lowered parts in order that the collector may be passed over a structure and minimised contact with the structure will mean that friction is concurrently minimised.

In preferred embodiments furthermore the body is provided with a smooth or glossy 25 finish, so as to minimise friction, minimise surface dirt capture and improve aesthetics.

In'some embodiments interior surfaces of the collector, more particularly interior surfaces of the tray and sides, are provided with a textured, matt or satin finish, in 30 order that dirt capture is maximised internally, so as to ensure smaller garbage particles are trapped effectively.

In some embodiments the handle includes a metal, plastic or carbon skeleton, so that the flexible body is provided with support and the collector can be used or pushed 35 vigorously against a structure without fear of handle breakage.

4

In addition given the body the collector is flexible enough to absorb stresses provided by heavy garbage when such weight is added to the collector.

In some embodiments this flexibility may ensure that overweight garbage is not 5 capable of being collected by the collector, wherein the collector will flex so as to prevent effective collection in that the garbage will tend to displace from the collector as the tray or handle flexes.

In other embodiments the flexure of the collector or more particularly the flexure of 10 the tray is constrained by the skeleton, wherein for example the skeleton extends below the tray and consequently prevents the tray flexing too far under weight.

In any event the collector is not liable to problems caused by straining, stressing or cracking as any of such stress is absorbed within the body flexibility.

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Advantageously the body material must have correct functional characteristics suitable for outdoor use including use of ultraviolet (UV) resistant polymers.

In some embodiments the tray in particular may be formed of the body without a 20 core, wherein the side and handle include a core, which core ensures that the side and handle flex minimally, so that flexibility in the collector is provided by the tray.

In this way the tray may provide a form of a flexible net bounded by a rigid side and may be held and lifted by the handle supporting the rigid side.

25

In this way the collector may be used as a scoop without any necessity for simultaneous use of a brush or brushing movements, wherein the collector may be used alone effectively in many garbage situations.

30 In other preferred embodiments the collector may be used in conjunction with a brush that is formed in the same manner.

Brief Description of Figures

35 Figures 1A and 1B show isometric views of preferred embodiments of the collector core and coated collector, respectively;

5

Figures 2 show views of embodiments of the collector core;

Figure 3 shows a top view of an embodiment of the coated collector;

5

Figures 4 show end view of embodiments of the collector with body and without respectively;

Figure 5 shows a side view of an embodiment of the collector ready for use.

10

And

Figures 6 show isometric views of preferred embodiments of the collector core and coated collector with brush, respectively.

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Detailed Description of Figures

The pictured and preferred embodiments of the collector relate to a dustpan and in some embodiments brush wherein the following are included:

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Side 1 Tray 2 Handle 3 Tray Edge 4 25 Core 5 Body 6

The core is covered in a body so as to form the collector at manufacture, to provide an integrated solid collector that is flexible when required and able to absorb flexure, 30 stress and impacts.

All preferred embodiments have ribs moulded into the core allowing the core to bend and flex in appropriate areas.

35 The collector has two styles, one suitable for the construction industry, and one suitable for domestic use with variations between these in size, strength, and style.

6

In the pictured embodiments the silicon body alone supports other features on the collector for example wherein the side, rubber edge of the collector, include no core. The side also has a moulded lip may help to get garbage off the brush.

5

The pictured embodiment also includes a curved front edge to the dustpan, allowing a greater range of debris to be collected.

Thumb or finger pad on the handle and brush handle helps to hold and grip, wherein 10 a grip shape is moulded.

In the preferred embodiment the core is cross hatched polyurethane which allows the pan to hold its shape whilst retaining a certain degree of flexibility.

15 A curved front edge gives the pan a wider spread for collecting garbage.

In some embodiments the brush handle may be formed of a single layer which may concentrically slot over the handle for transport or storage. A solid or hollow mould in contrast adds structural strength in some embodiments wherein in preferred 20 embodiments it is expected that main structural strength needs to be retained is around the pan handle.

In different embodiments the shape of the tray can allow for a greater spread of area to be reached, and wherein angle and spread of the side can be altered according to 25 how much garbage the collector is perceived to need to hold and how compact that garbage is, and wherein a curved front edge gives the pan a wider spread for collecting garbage.

A hole in the handle and/or brush handle enables attachment to walls.

30

The pictured and preferred embodiment is an industrial dustpan and brush that through use of silicon is designed to flex under large amounts of pressure and then form back into an original shape so as to stop the collector snapping and give a higher resistance to scrapes and indentations, and accordingly any accompanying 35 brush as pictured has flex at its neck and elsewhere to allow the handle to bend in multiple directions.

7

In further embodiments silicon may not be used as a primary material, wherein for example the material may be more deformable or elastic, and in yet further embodiments the material may include the core, whereas other embodiments may . 5 have integral external strengthening, a skeleton or exoskeleton.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

10

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent 15 relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to 20 those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

8

Claims

1. A handheld garbage collector comprising a tray bounded by a side leading to a handle; wherein at least said tray and side are formed by an elastomer body

5 capable of resilient deformation.

2. A collector according to claim 1, further comprising a core for providing internal strengthening of the collector.

10 3. A collector according to claim 2, wherein the core is provided by synthetic plastics.

4. A collector according to any preceding claim, wherein the body includes the handle and a plurality of strengthening sections.

15

5. A method of collecting garbage involving using a handheld garbage collector as claimed in any preceding claim or with reference to the figures.

9

Amendments to claims have been filed as follows

Claims

1. A handheld garbage collector comprising a tray 2 bounded by a side 1 leading to a handle 3; wherein at least said tray 2 and side 1 are formed by a 5 surface of an elastomer body 6 capable of resilient deformation providing faces for collection of garbage formed over a resiliently deformable grid-like skeleton core 5 for providing internal strengthening so that in use the garbage collector flexes and returns to its original shape without snapping.

10 2. A collector according to claim 1 wherein the skeleton core comprises moulded ribs.

3. A collector according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the skeleton core is provided by synthetic plastics.

15

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30

4. A collector according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the skeleton core comprises metallic wire.

5. A method of manufacturing a handheld garbage collector by forming a tray 2 20 bounded by a side 1 leading to a handle 3; wherein at least said tray 2 and side 1 are formed by a surface of an elastomer body 6 capable of resilient deformation providing faces for collection of garbage formed over a resiliently deformable grid-like skeleton core 5 for providing internal strengthening so that in use the garbage collector flexes and returns to its original shape t

•?" "J 25 without snapping.

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6. A method of manufacturing a resiliently deformable handheld collector according to claim 5 wherein the skeleton core is as defined according to claims 1 to 4.

7. A method of collecting garbage involving using a handheld garbage collector as claimed in claims 1 to 5.

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*.*. .V PROPERTY OFFICE

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Application No: GB1211921.0 Examiner: Mr Rhodri Evans

Claims searched: 1-5 Date of search: 16 November 2012

Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17

Documents considered to be relevant: